Day 1
Rise and Shine: Fancy a walk early in the morning? Give yourself a chance to breathe in the fresh morning air by taking a walk in the Garden of Five Senses. This quaint park is the perfect spot to start off your day of adventure.

Photo by Kprateek88, CC BY-SA 3.0

Break the Fast: When youâ€re done taking a nice stroll in the gardens, take a pit stop before you head back to your hotel. Refresh yourself by indulging in some breath-taking coffee and breakfast from Rose Cafe, which is close to the garden youâ€ve just strolled in!

Sights to see

Photo by Jaskirat Singh Bawa, CC BY-SA 2.0

Grab your backpack and start off towards the many historical locations you can take a look at. The place youâ€re looking for is the famous Jama Masjid. Itâ€ll leave you entranced by the view. On the way you can also get amazed by the crowd of Chandni Chowk; and after that you can embark towards the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayunâ€s tomb etc. to give your eyes a taste of Indiaâ€s heritage.

Give some Yummy to the Tummy

Photo by Saad Akhtar, CC BY 2.0

How about a meal thatâ€ll make you feel like your stomach is going to explode? Let your tongue have the taste of the delicious food from places like Karimâ€s or Lotus Leaf; Pebble Street or the Yum Yum Tree.

Resume the Shooting

Photo by Ekabhishek, CC BY-SA 3.0

Is the memory of your camera already full? Well, youâ€ll have to look for a solution because post lunch, thereâ€s some shopping to do along with capturing the pretty and effervescent market known as Dilli Haat, which is one of the best places to buy handicrafts from. You will get lost in the astonishment that is this colourful market. From here you can go to the lavish mall called Select City walk. Take the Metro to Malviya Nagar, and head towards Saket to reach the biggest mall of Delhi for some fun shopping and gaming.

Love the Caffeine

Photo by Qnaveedm, CC BY-SA 3.0

Your next stop can be any of the coffee shops in Citywalk. If youâ€re feeling adventurous still even though itâ€s early evening, tread into the Hard Rock Cafe and indulge in the rocking atmosphere.

Homage to the Martyrs

Photo by ssbmaccom, CC0 1.0

If you want to look at the prestigious India Gate, now is the right time. As the sun sets and the pretty lights adorn this great edifice, youâ€ll feel as though your mind is at peace. Lounge on the lush grass under the trees and stroll through the long, wide road, and pay your respects to our brave martyred soldiers.

Dance Dance: Itâ€s time for some fun. Grab some dinner at Yeti-The Himalayan Kitchen, and head over to Third Eye, or Agni for some clubbing and drinks.

Day 2

Hangover cure: Since you wonâ€t be able to wake up very early after all of the dancing, you can just freshen up and grab a cab to have some tea from the Tea Stall Studio in Lajpat Nagar or Suresh Tea Stall to start off your day.

White Beauty

Photo by Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0

Begin by visiting the beautiful Lotus Temple. Capture this wondrous artistic construction in your camera, for it is a sight youâ€d want to remember. Later, you can take a walk through the Janpath market if youâ€re interested in looking at stalls of ethnic clothing and souvenirs.

Luscious Lunch

Photo by Geoff Stearns, CC BY 2.0

Whisk yourself away to the Khan Market and indulge in an afternoon of Asian cuisine at Mamagoto. You can also go to Haldiramâ€s if youâ€re craving some street food.

Shop More

Photo by Vladislav Bezrukov, CC BY 2.0

Karol Bagh, Connaught Place, Pallika Bazaar and Sarojini Market…there are so many of them that you can visit. Hop into the Metro and travel to the nearest market to explore more of the intricate Delhi areas, and check out what theyâ€re selling.

Lurch to the Church

Photo by Supreet Sethi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Take your trip to the Central Baptist Church for some peace and quiet in your otherwise rushing day. From here you can embark onto the Lal Mandir temple, which is an artistic sight in itself.

Park Time

Photo by rachaelvoorhees, CC BY-SA 2.0

Towards the late afternoon, you can take a stroll through the popular Lodhi Gardens, which is an attraction for tourists and locals alike. You can relax and chat with your companions or friends while enjoying the greenery and the long pathways surrounded by tall trees.

Wine N Dine: Take an early dinner at the Taj if youâ€re in the mood for a luxurious time. You can also head over to Indian Accent-The Manor or Zerruco in Hotel Ashok. Pamper yourself with some cocktails, and enjoy a quiet and fun evening.

Presidential Suite

Photo by Christian Haugen, CC BY 2.0

End your night with a quick look at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the former home of the Viceroy of India, which is now the residential area of the President.

Delhi is a city full of unlimited places to visit. It is the heart of Indiaâ€s cultural and historical heritage, and a location of great significance. Even if you have a limited amount of time in Delhi, itâ€s still enough to let you know the magnificence that is the capital of India.

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Melbourne (pronounced ‘melbâ€nâ€) has been dubbed the ‘Most Liveable City In The World†and I have to agree. It is a great city and if you live and work in Melbourne it is affordable, however for those visiting it is not a cheap place to holiday. Located in the very south-western corner of Australia, Melbourne is a bustling hub of arts and culture. I moved to Melbourne from The Surf Coast a few years ago and in those short years I havenâ€t once been bored, hungry or sober… no Iâ€m just kidding. But seriously Iâ€m 21 and Melbourne hasnâ€t just taught me how to party, itâ€s taught me what good coffee tastes like, how to shop, how to use (and hate) public transport and how to prepare for the likely event of experiencing 4 seasons in one day.

Things To Do

Shopping
Melbourne may not have the name that Paris or Milan do when it comes to shopping but it will not disappoint. Melbourne loves shopping so while you are there take a look around Melbourne Central for mid-range shopping, or the newly built and beautiful Emporium for something a little more expensive. Bourke Street is home to lots of larger chains like David Jones or Zara and QV has local Australian shops, pop-up shops and boutiques as well as a few quirky non-retail venues like the new Strike Bowling Escape Rooms amazing ice cream at Movenpick and the Japanese super store Daiso (everything is $2.80??).

Photo Credit: www.concreteplayground.com

Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are located south of the Yarra River, just a 10 minute walk from the city and make for a beautiful afternoon stroll. The gardens are beautiful in both summer and winter and are super close to the Arts Precinct, so you can check out what the National Gallery has on exhibit in the same afternoon. The Shrine of Remembrance is also located just near the Gardenâ€s city entrance off St Kilda Road. The Shrine has a beautiful balcony that is open to public and makes for some amazing panoramic views.

Eureka Tower
Speaking of amazing panoramic views, the iconic Eureka Tower is the highest vantage point open to the public in the Southern Hemisphere. It costs $10 to take the elevator up 975 ft. to reach the Skydeck on the 88th floor. It is an amazing observation point and the view is worth scoping in the day or night.

Peninsula Hot Springs
Located one hour and ten minutes out of the CBD these hot springs can be busy over the weekends so it is recommended that you visit during the week (if you can) and during sunset as the pools are located in the hills and allow for amazing sun set views, all from the comfort and warmth of a natural hot spring. The springs are not accessible by public transport but a shuttle bus runs 3 times a week from the city. In all honesty, if you are planning on visiting the hot springs it would be worth hiring a car. Melbourne have various car rental services, including some you can rent for an hour at a time.


Photo Credit: www.businessinfocus.com.au

What To Eat And Where To Drink

Melbourne has lots of quaint lane ways and alleys overflowing with cafes and bars, the most famous being Degraves Street. Use your meal times to explore the winding lanes and hidden walkways of Melbourneâ€s CBD that have come to be a large part of itâ€s culture. If you drink coffee you will love Melbourne. As is the saying at Market Lane Cafe in the city, “We love to make coffee for the city that loves to drink it”. Melbourne is overflowing with cafe options. The best are the ones you will, inevitably, stumble into accidentally.


Photo Credit: www.flickr.com

Located in Tattersalls lane, Shanghai Dumpling has become an iconic place to eat in Melbourne. The lack of service is made up for in lack of expense. The service is quick and I recommend the fried pork dumplings. As with most well-known restaurants in Melbourne, expect to wait for a table during busy times. Right next to Shanghai Dumplings is the very cool and relaxed outdoor bar called Section 8, perfect for a casual drink and some live music on a warm summer evening. Just a little further up the lane and looking over section 8 is Ferdydurke, a multiple story bar that has a huge open fire, mulled wine and a very ‘Melbourne†feel to it, perfect for the colder months.

For a dinner option that is a little more refined but just as quintessentially Melbourne, try Chin Chinâ€s on Flinders Lane. Chin Chinâ€s does not take bookings and again, expect a long line of hopeful walk ins during busy times. But itâ€s worth it, trust me. If you visit Chin Chin I recommend the Sashimi Kingfish. Just thinking about it has my tummy rumbling…

Depending on what time you are visiting Melbourne, the Victoria Marketâ€s have a night food market. It runs during summer and winter and offers a broad range of local food stalls as well as stalls from local businesses selling everything from soy wax candles to handmade puppets. There is a bar right around the corner from the Markets that is also worth a visit called Warehouse Bar. Warehouse offers a very lush balcony that has a view of Elizabeth street, hip hop vibes and regular live djs.

Photo Credit: www.aseanjournal.com

Nightlife

Melbourne has a great nightlife. From high-end bars to dingy pubs, Melbourne has it. The Last Jar on Elizabeth Street is an Irish Pub with numerous beers on tap and a classic Aussie pub menu available. Naked for Satan is a swanky bar in Fitzroy and is famous for itâ€s amazing city views and infused vodkas. The Corner Hotel in Richmond or Max Wattâ€s House of Music (formerly The Hifi) in the city ooze down to earth vibes and are a must do for any live music lover. Check out whatâ€s on prior to your visit and see if anything tickles your fancy. For something a little more underground, Revolver Nightclub in South Yarra is open all night and boasts famous world-renowned DJs.

Photo Credit: www.au.timeout.com

Fitness

For all the fitness freaks that cannot go 48 hours without exercising Melbourne has options for you too.

The Brighton Baths are great for cooling off if you happen to visit during a heat wave. They have an outdoor saltwater swimming area and an outdoor gym. As well as this, the baths have a private gym, group exercise classes and amazing bay views.

The St Kilda baths have a heated 25 metre seawater pool, a hydrotherapy spa, ‘aromatherapy†steam room and a lounge area offering magnificent views of the bay.

Both are famous in Melbourne and have been established for a long time.

Photo Credit: www.southpacifichc.com.au

Where to stay

The YHA hostel is located on Flinders Street in Melbourneâ€s CBD and is your typical hostel, nothing fancy but itâ€s clean, safe and has a rooftop terrace which boasts awesome (and rare) city rooftop views.

For something a little bit special check out the Adelphi Hotel located on Flinders lane, just a stoneâ€s throw from Federation Square and Flinders street station the Adelphi is a modern hotel surrounded by famous lanes decked out in graffiti, just up the road from Chin Chin and numerous other bars and restaurants. The Adelphi also has a heated 25 metre rooftop pool complete with a city views and bar. Need I say more?

Photo Credit: www.australiantraveller.com

Transport

Getting around Melbourne is super easy. Trams run from about 6am until 1am and are free in the CBD. ‘Myki†is the new ticketing system used, and it involves the purchase of a plastic card which you ‘touch on†or off and the tram fare is automatically deducted from the card. Myki cards and Myki credit can be purchased at 7/11s or train stations. Trains also operate in Melbourne and are very efficient. They operate on the Myki system also. If you find yourself in a situation in which public transport is not available, Uber is a taxi service that is a lot cheaper than conventional taxiâ€s and are abundant and very popular in Melbourne. Uber requires a iPhone app however. Transport to and from the Tullamarine airport is also very easy. The Skybus is a service that runs 24/7 and every twenty minutes to and from Southern Cross Station in the City and the Airport.

Budget

Melbourne isn’t the cheapest city. A bottle of water will cost you $2.50, a pot of beer about $4 and a standard meal around $15 – 20. But Melbourne is a very cool city if you get to know it. The CBD has more than enough to offer anyone in 2 days and although 48 hours may not be long enough to see all the city has to offer, I bet it will enough to get you planning your next trip back

The post Another Way To Spend 48 Hours In Melbourne appeared first on 48 Hour Adventure.

The title of Rajasthan was derived from the label of ‘Rajputana†that the British officers had devised for this region during their rule (Raj) in India. The term Rajputana translates to mean the Land of the Rajputs.

This is a clan of the warrior classes in the Indian caste system. They are known for their chivalry and bravery. The term ‘Rajputana†was not devised to apply to the common residents of these areas. It was purposely concocted to appease the rulers of this fiercely violent land.

The British were successful militarily in many other parts of India. When they approached the area of greatest density of princely states that is present-day Rajasthan, they were doubtful about their chances. Their policies of divide and rule did not work well here. And the rulers†armies were very many and ready to fight to the death in many cases. This tradition of ‘Saka†is one of the gems of Rajput culture, along with the tradition of ‘Joharâ€.

Finally the British offered peace to the princely states in exchange for an annual ‘Hazriâ€, the tribute extracted by them. Since the rulers of these states were very wealthy, they agreed to this agreement. The result is that British rule never directly existed in Rajputana. This provides a stark contrast in architecture, but primarily in culture between Rajasthan and the rest of India.

Ask any traveler who has spent extensive time in Rajasthan and they will tell you that the feudal feel in the background is even alive today. It may not necessarily favor the erstwhile rulers and nobles. But the power structures are still intact, regardless of who is currently in power. This offers a very interesting adventure for the intelligent visitor. Let us look at how you can best enjoy a 48 hour stay in Jaipur to get the most memorable experience.

Maharaja Jai Singh II planned and built Jaipur between 1727-1734. He used science and geometry in planning the city. We shall see an example of this right at the beginning of our 2 day tour.

DAY 1

Sunrise At ‘Galtajiâ€

Photo by China Crisis, CC BY-SA 3.0

We will begin the first day at 6 AM. Jaipur had a protective built right around the entire city. There are seven massive gates in this wall at strategic points. One facing east at the point where the sun rises is appropriately called ‘Suraj Polâ€. This translates to the ‘Sun Doorâ€.

Right outside this gate are hills. There is a wide path leading up the hills. At the top, a little to the right, is the Sun Temple, where the rising Sun would be welcomed each and every day. This is the best point in the whole of Jaipur to watch the sunrise.

Descending down the other side of the hill, you will reach a natural spring in the pass, called ‘Galtajiâ€. The water from the sprout collects in a deep tank constructed by the Lords of Jaipur. It is customary to take a dip in these fresh natural waters. I would very strongly recommend it as an unforgettable experience. The custom is to strip down to the bare necessities, i.e. underwear or swimming gear before venturing in the water. Modest Indian women can be seen bathing in full clothing.

Morning At City Palace

Photo by Rakesh, CC BY-SA 2.0

After our early morning bath, we will proceed to the center of town. Even today, this is where the erstwhile Royal Family lives, just like Queen Elizabeth of England. The City Palace is open for tourists to see for themselves the grandeur and vastness of its environs. The most famous, and unique to Jaipur, tourist attraction of Jaipur is the ‘Hawa Mahalâ€. This is a façade fronting the section of road right outside the old Town Hall. It has hundreds of small windows with extricate and exquisite stone lattice-work. During medieval India, women were to keep themselves veiled for their own safely. Intruders were known to kidnap girls and women. Wars were sometimes fought just to capture a ravishing beauty. Such were the times. The minute windows of Hawa Mahal allow the women to look out without being seen themselves.

Inside the City Palace is located Maharaja Jai Singh IIâ€s famous ‘Jantar Mantarâ€. This was his Royal Observatory. The huge sundials that you can see here could measure time to the exactness of a second. This so impressed the Mughals of Delhi that they requested he construct a similar observatory in Delhi for them.

Afternoon At The Museum

Photo by Rolling Okie, CC BY 2.0

With its vivid and eventful past, Jaipur has much history to offer the traveler. The ideal place to learn about Jaipur is at the City Museum, artistically set within the Ram Niwas Gardens. Here you will find many of the items which featured in Jaipurâ€s history. Including one of the pair of massive silver pots that Maharaja Madho Singh II had fashioned when he went to London to meet Queen Victoria. Being a devout Hindu, he was afraid of having to drink water from unknown sources during his trip. It was common for Kings to be poisoned in those days. He commissioned a pair of massive silver pots. He ordered that water from the Holy Ganges River should be filled in these pots before they were loaded onto his steamer for London. During his entire trip, he only drank this water.

Sunset At Nahargarh

Sunset at Nahargarh Fort – Photo by Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0

From the City Palace you can see a mountain with a fort atop it. This is Jaipurâ€s famous Nahargarh Fort. And we are going to climb up to it. The road leading up to the fort runs through the old city and winds its way up the hill. It is wide enough for elephants to be brought up. It was customary for royals to always be seated on elephant-back when out in public in peacetime. As you keep rising, you get to see more and more of the expanse of the city. And this is hardly all of it.

There is a nice restaurant where you can get some much-needed refreshment after the climb up. Before sunset we want to proceed to the Durg Café, located right at the end of Nahargarh Fort. The name of the fort translate as the Lion Fort. It is not just to showcase its strength. There were actually lions roaming here in the wild when the fort was built. There is still a thick jungle behind the fort today where you can very likely meet some dangerous animals.

Watching the sunset from Durg Café is a really magical moment. You will first see the sun go down. Then you will see the lights of the city some on, one by one, under you. As the sky darkens, you will finally see the stars come out to compete with the flashes of lights from the city below.

DAY 2

Morning At Amer

Photo by Piyush Kumar, CC BY 2.0

The founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Jai Singh II was the King of Amer when he planned and built Jaipur. His ancestors had already been ruling Amer for centuries before he conceived of a bigger city. Even today the Amer Fort, the erstwhile residence of Jaipurâ€s royal family is a sight to behold.

You have the chance to know what the royals felt like atop the elephant by climbing on one yourself at Amer. The ascent up to the fort by elephant is a popular favorite with visitors to Jaipur.

Inside the fort, you can see the expansive courtyards and gardens that were used by the royal courts earlier. Amer was not originally made by the ruling family of Jaipur. It was the citadel of the Meena tribe. When they were conquered by the ancestors of the current ruling family, they requested to be at the victorâ€s service. Since then generation after generation of this tribe has been in the service of the royals.

There is an interesting episode concerning the loyalty of these generations-old retainers. The Rajput rulers of Amer constructed another fort way above Amer Fort, called Jaigarh Fort. This was actually built to fashion ‘Jaibanâ€, the worldâ€s largest cannon. The name translates to the weapon of victory. Rumour has it that when it was tested, the cannonball fired fell at a village some 40 kilometers away. A deadly weapon indeed. The foundries which created this massive cannon are also worth a visit.

Jaigarh was also where the Royal Treasury was located. Even after Independence from the British and the creation of the Union of India, the treasury was still located here. It is said that the treasuries were so rich that even the royals, including the King and Queen, were not permitted to view all of them. When they needed a item, they would be taken blindfold into the treasury, asked to select the item they wished for, and then be blindfolded again to be led out.

When, after Independence, the Government of India sent officers from the Income Tax department to Jaigarh to assess the wealth, the Meena guards would not let them pass. They only recognized the suzerainty of the royal family of Jaipur. The Head Guard, who was still armed with a sword at this time, apparently offered his sword to the income tax officers, asking them to cut off his head. For he said, while he was living, he would let nobody but the royal family pass within.

Such loyalty is what makes Rajasthan stand out in India.

Lunch At Jal Mahal

Photo by Dimitry B., CC BY 2.0

On the way back from Amer and Jaigarh to Jaipur, you will see an expansive lake to your left with a Palace ‘floating†in the middle. This is the luxurious Jal Mahal Palace. The name translates as the Water Palace. To think that just one family would have so many monuments and structures built for them gives you an idea of their power. These were Kings and these were their kingdoms.

Jal Mahal lays out a fine spread for lunch. You can sit back and feast while watching the placid waters of the lake rippling below you.

Dinner at Choki Dhani

Photo by Piyush Kumar, CC BY 2.0

So far we have seen all the vestiges of Rajasthanâ€s royal past. To end, we shall feel some of its traditional rural life too. There is an amazing resort called Choki Dhani. Here they have re-created the typical rural Rajasthani environment. A big hit with the nearby young urban crowd from New Delhi, you really feel part of a festival or fair here. There are 4 types of animal rides to choose from. You can ride a bullock-cart, a horse-driven carriage, a camel or an elephant. There are local magicians performing their ancient arts. You get a wide variety of local craftsmen selling typical Rajasthani jewelry and other trinkets. You have the shows of typical Rajasthani dancing forms such as ‘Kala-beliya†being performed. Once you have partaken of enough physical excitement and built up a healthy appetite, it is time for the typical Rajasthani dinner. You will be seated cross-legged on a mat on a wooden floor. You will be served each and every dish, including the plates, bowls, glasses and other utensils. In Rajasthan, once you have sat down to eat, you are not expected to need to get up until you have finished eating. As a guest of Rajasthan, they ensure here that you are fed till the gills before they allow you to get up. In all, you will feel pretty much a typical Rajasthani yourself by the time youâ€re done here.

At the end of our two days, it is time to say goodnight. Iâ€m sure the activities of the day would have made you very much desire a warm bed at night. Have a sound sleep and think of Jaipur in your dreams.

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Things to See and Do

Within Reykjavik itself, there’s not a whole lot of things to spend your time visiting, to be honest. The Hallgrímskirkja (cathedral) atop the hill overlooking the city is worth a quick look, but otherwise get yourself out of the city and into the wide open spaces of this wild country.

Golden Circle

The big ticket items close to Reykjavik of Þingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss that most tour companies will take you to make up the Golden Circle. We decided that rather than pile onto a bus full of randoms, we’d hire our own car and explore not only these places but other parts of Iceland around the capital.

Our little VW Polo wasn’t quite as capable as what this jacked up 4WD next to us was of!

Þingvellir

Þingvellir (Thingvellir – Thing Fields) is the site of the first Icelandic parliament, founded in 930 and it remained there until 1798. It’s an expansive site with significant cultural and historic value for the Icelandic. It’s also where the two tectonic plates of Europe and America meet, making it quite the geological site to check out as your first stop out of Reykjavik. Of course I did the “now I’m in Europe, now I’m in America” thing.

The massive cliffs of rock on either side of the site signify where the two tectonic plates separate.

It does get packed out with tourists, but don’t be discouraged. We only stopped in for 30-45 minutes, so we did a quick lap of the place, soaked up the natural beauty and then got on our way to the next interesting sight.

Geysir (Haukadalur Geothermal Area)

Iceland is an absolute hotbed of geothermal activity (see what I did there? :)), and the closest site to Reykjavik to see this kind of action is the Haukadalur geothermal area, about an hour or two out of town. The entire site is a steaming landscape of hot streams and puddles, showing just how volatile the earth of this country is.

Some of the pools of hot water actually look like warm, inviting jacuzzis which were tempting, especially if you visit during the colder months. But with water temperatures nearing 100 degrees celcius, you’d do yourself in if you tried to have a dip.

The famous Geysir here lays mostly dormant these days, only erupting every few years. But the more active Strokkur (about 50 metres closer to the road) will erupt every 4-8 minutes.

Erupting almost 50 metres into the air each time, seeing this was one of the big reasons I wanted to come to Iceland.

Gullfoss

Situated a few kilometres up the road from the Haukadalur Geothermal Area, Gullfoss (the Golden Falls) is an absolutely epic 2 tiered waterfall that flows down from a glacier and cascades down into an enormous crevice.

You park on the plain above the waterfall and then descend down into the valley where the action is. As you walk down the stairs, the mist from the waterfall rises up and you hear the roar of the sheer volume of water passing over these falls. Truly an epic waterfall, and only the first in a chain of great ones to check out across southern Iceland.

Seljalandsfoss

Venturing further east about an hour away from Reykjavik, you’ll find the majestic Seljalandsfoss.

As your approach it from the highway, you see it spilling out over the cliff from the glacier, hundreds of metres above in the mountains. On a sunny day, the mist creates a mesmerising rainbow underneath the waterfall.

A path leads across a small bridge and up a wet set of wooden stairs alongside the waterfall. From here, it gets pretty wet and misty, but for the brave you can venture behind the vertical flow of water and get a completely different vantage point of this beautiful waterfall.

Skogafoss

Further east along the main highway that circles Iceland, you’ll find the small town of Skógar on the south side of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The volcano that lives inside this glacier was responsible for bring European airspace to a grinding halt in 2010 due to the extensive ash cloud.

This thunderous waterfall makes this small town famous, and is tucked away at the back of the hamlet near a camping ground and the start of a hike up the mountain.

There’s an Eyjafjallajökull visitor centre further down the road from Skogar also, which makes for an interesting insight into the event.

Blue Lagoon

And now, one of the most talked about and frequented attractions in Iceland – the Blue Lagoon. The outdoor baths are great in any weather, super warm and an indulgent way to end your trip to Iceland.

The Blue Lagoon isn’t a natural phenomena as such. It’s actually the result of excess water from the nearby geothermal power plant that runs into the lagoon and creates pools to swim and bathe in. Don’t be put off though, as it’s totally good for you and an amazing experience.

Hanging out in the water and enjoying the volcanic atmosphere is what it’s all about here.

The smartest way to visit the Blue Lagoon is to do it on your last day on your way to the airport. It’s 10-15 minutes before you reach the airport, so it’s easy to drop in at lunch, have a swim and then catch an afternoon/evening flight out.

Food and Drink

Reykjavik has a great selection of places for coffee, lunch, dinner and everything in between. The downtown area is full of cosy cafes, fine restaurants and brunch joints. And the Icelandic absolutely love their coffee, so you’ll never be uncaffeienated.

Grillmarkaðurinn

If you’re after puffin, whale or just some good quality beef, chicken or lamb, make sure you get down to the Grill Market.

They do puffin and whale burgers as well as a great mixed grill, a wide selection of local beers and a really friendly atmosphere.

Aldin

Aldin is a quaint little cafe on Austurstræti serving great coffee, salads and pastries. Straight up as you enter, you’re given a warm welcome that we came to see often in Iceland.

Aldin is a great option for lunch between exploring Reykjavik to refuel, recaffienate and get a free wifi fix.

The upstairs loft is a cosy place to hang out, get warm and relax with a book or magazine or plan where you’re going next.

Laundromat

Laundromat is THE place to have brunch when you’re in Reykjavik. Anything and everything you could want before lunch is on offer here, from eggs and bacon to pancakes, waffles and muesli.

The renovated interior feels like a diner cum library, with funky lighting and walls that are adorned with old maps of Europe.

The epic brunch feast – pancakes, fruit, muesli, sausages, eggs, bacon and potatoes. Phwoar.

Laundromat also has its own working laundromat in the basement, so you’re sure to see local families coming in and out doing their washing during the weekend.

How to get there

Reykjvavik is well connected to the rest of Europe and North America, with its location at the top of the Atlantic making it easily accessible from both continents. For low cost flights, check out Wow Air, Iceland Express and easyJet; and for full service, check out Iceland’s flag carrier, Icelandair.

A bit of orientation

Hereâ€s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Reykjavik. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map. View 48 hours in Reykjavik in a larger map

Get around in Reykjavik

Reykjavik is all easily walkable in the downtown area, but to make the most of Iceland, hire yourself a car like I mentioned earlier. It’ll provide you with the most freedom to see the amazing natural attractions around Reykjavik.

Where to stay

The Centerhotels chain of hotels have 5 hotels dotted around Reykjavik, providing a lot of choice for a place to stay. If you’re keen on experiencing one of the highest reviewed hostels on the planet, check out Kex Hostel. Housed in a converted warehouse, this hostel is more a boutique hotel than a dingy hostel.

Budget

Let’s not beat around the bush. After Iceland’s economy recovered from the bank collapses, their currency too has returned to its former value. This puts Iceland Expensive++

Conclusion

Reykjavik and Iceland is such a standout, unique country to check out over 2 days. It’s a bit further afield from everywhere else but that’s what makes it special. Nowhere else has such a dramatic assortment of natural attractions to explore, exciting activities to have a crack at, and did I EVEN mention the Northern Lights?! Get yourself up to Iceland as soon as you can.

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Things to See and Do

The understated other borough, Brooklyn is more like Melbourne in that you need to kind of need to have an idea of what you’re looking for or where you’re going to really appreciate the place. For Melbourne, it’s the laneways. For Brooklyn, it’s places like Cobble Hill and Williamsburg.

Brooklyn Bridge

One of  NYC’s most recognisable icons, Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River to connect Manhattan with Brooklyn. So many music videos and commercials have been filmed on or around this bridge, making it truly a sight to see when you first glimpse it.

My advice is to walk over it from the Brooklyn side, taking in the great views of the Manhattan skyline. It’s totally free and you can also admire the feat of engineering that this bridge is.

Brooklyn Flea

Jayne from Travelling Shopaholic scoped this one out. Brooklyn Flea essentially does what it says on the tin – it’s a flea market offering all kinds of vintage bits and pieces like vinyl records, clothing, jewellery, homeware, artwork and more. Brooklyn Flea isn’t actually just one location. They actually have a few markets dotted around Brooklyn, check out their website for info.

The market we visited covers the entire area of the dramatic old Williamsburg Bank, including inside the old teller offices. Just when you think you’ve seen all that the vendors have to offer, you descend downstairs and find even more wares abound inside the bank’s old vault. Pretty cool use of the space in my opinion.

To find out more about Brooklyn Flea, check out Jayne’s post On The Market: Brooklyn Flea.

DUMBO

DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. Another good example of how New Yorkers abbreviate absolutely everything. It’s an area of Brooklyn down near the river that consists of the land between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge approaches. It’s filled with old school cobblestone streets, cafes, restaurants and warehouses turned into art galleries. It’s a short walk from Downtown Brooklyn and makes for a great place to spend the afternoon before having a few drinks and dinner. It’s also where the legendary Grimaldi’s pizza is located, but more on that later.

DUMBO is also home to Brooklyn Bridge Park, where the header photo of this post was taken from. It’s definitely the ideal place to take in the Brooklyn Bridge from.

Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill is the suburb where the best array of cool cafes and restaurants within walking distance of Downtown are. Court St and Smith St are the two main drags where you’ll find great places for brunch, cocktails and artisan eateries. The streets deviating off these two main thoroughfares are also filled with those typical Brooklyn brownstone apartments you see in loads of sitcoms and movies.

Coney Island

I think Coney Island is a name loads of us remember from our childhood in one way or another. I know I recognised it primarily from movies and films, and it was really cool to check out this legendary, nostalgic part of Brooklyn.

Recently battered by Hurricane Sandy, Coney Island is on the mend and back to its former glory of carnival rides, sideshows, hot dogs and of course the seaside.

Also in Coney Island is Cyclone, one of America’s oldest wooden roller-coaster  Riders reach up to 60 mph on this baby, and the rickety instability of it all contributes to the “oh god am I going to die?!” experience.

Food and Drink

Let’s face it, the food is a big reason why people visit NYC. When I think New York, I think pizza, cheesecake, bagels, hot dogs and everything in between. The time I spent in various restaurants and diners in Brooklyn definitely didn’t disappoint, as you’re about to find out.

Junior’s Restaurant

Junior’s is the indisputable home of NYC cheesecake. Every person we asked about cheesecake always recommended us to go to Junior’s and when we went to their original Brooklyn restaurant, we weren’t disappointed. Adventurous Kate summed it up well in her post New in New York: This Time Around when she said their cheesecake was “fabulously delicious”,

We went on a Sunday and found loads of families in their Sunday best enjoying a hearty lunch. It was one of those serendipitous insights into TV show style American family life that I was super excited to witness.

The original Junior’s is in Brooklyn, but they also have restaurants in Times Square and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. They also do great sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and well, everything is great. Do yourself a favour and make sure you check it out.

A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour

If you’re keen on experiencing the best pizza in NYC, you’ve got to check out the A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour. They start in Manhattan but quickly take the bridge into Brooklyn to tell you all about the NYC pizza wars before hitting up the first of two pizzerias.

Our tour was lead by Paula, the niece of the owner, Tony. Brooklyn born and bred and Jewish catholic by faith, she was super passionate, informative, opinionated and had a crazy number of stories about Brooklyn to share with us. Our first stop was the Brooklyn Bridge Park (as I mentioned above) and DUMBO before we made our way to our first stop for pizza, Grimaldi’s.

Grimaldi’s

Grimaldis is that legendary NYC pizza establishment I was talking about. When you ask someone “where do I go for the best NYC style pizza?” you’ll be told Grimaldi’s at least 50% of the time (the other 50% will tell you Lombardi’s, but that’s for the Manhattan post).

The first thing to say about their pizzas is that they’re big. Their margherita consists of  just three toppings – their own tomato sauce, mozarella (or “mozarel” as our tour guide Paula called it) and fresh basil. That’s it.

You can’t buy by the slice here either, you’ve got to order a whole pie. So queue up, find yourself a seat with a friend and get ready for some special pizza.

Grimaldi’s has a reputation and queues form fast outside. My recommendation is to either get their early, or go as part of the tour like we did. When we arrived, we were guided straight to a reserved table, served our choice of drinks and just waited for the pie.

The thing is, this isn’t the original Grimaldi’s. This Grimaldi’s is some other guy that bought the brand off the original owners. He moved in in the past year to a building he happened to own one door down from the original because he couldn’t pay the rent. The old Grimaldi’s is now Juliana’s down the road, and is run by the original Grimaldi family.

It’s the same pie with a coal oven, and the only difference is the cheese. This my friends, is the pizza wars of NYC. Who knew pizza could be such a contentious business? Only in NYC huh.

As we weaved our way through suburban Brooklyn, we were shown clips from movies featuring the borough like Saturday Night Fever and Goodfellas that featured landmarks we were passing. One which I found memorable because I always get a kick out film and TV locations was passing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge that connects Brooklyn and Staten island as we saw the exact scene from Saturday Night Fever.

L&B Spumoni Gardens

We threaded further through old neighbourhoods, parks and mansions, taking in more of everyday Brooklyn before arriving in Bensonhurst. It was time for another movie clip, this time the opening scene of Saturday Night Fever. As we passed under the iconic overhead railroad, we followed along with the movie, matching up exactly where John Travolta strutted along the sidewalk before picking up two slices for a snack.

For our next pizzeria, we were taken to L&B Spumoni Gardens. Since 1939 the kitchen here has been serving up a very different style of pizza to Grimaldi’s. Rather than standard thin crust NYC pie, they serve Sicilian pizza. This pizza is prepared with the cheese on the dough first before it’s cooked. The sauce is then put on half way through and it’s cooked again. The result is a lighter, taller crust and a very different texture.

Spumoni’s is definitely a real family kind of place. It’s so deep into Brooklyn that there’s no way you’d see any tourists here unless they were on the tour with you. It was absolutely packed with locals and families including a few squads of NYPD and FDNY folks.

The way I look at it, if the cops are coming here, it’s got to be good. Given that we had to triple park the bus on the street to get anywhere near this place shows you how popular it is.

How to get there

NYC is undoubtedly really well connected with the rest of the world. Flying from Europe, you can fly British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and pretty much any other flag carrier airline into either JFK or Newark airports (in New Jersey). If you’re flying from within North America you’ll probably also fly into La Guardia (LGA) airport.

Getting into Brooklyn, you can take the subway or just grab a cab from Manhattan. It’s literally only 5 minutes away over one of the bridges.

A bit of orientation

Hereâ€s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Brooklyn. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Brooklyn in a larger map

Get around in Brooklyn

The subway or a taxi is your best bet for getting around Brooklyn. The borough is well connected with public transport both within and to/from Manhattan and a yellow NYC cab is never far away.

You may find some difficulty asking a cabbie to take you from Manhattan to the outer parts of Brooklyn, but anywhere near Downtown should be fine. The fare should be around $20-$30.

Where to stay

We stayed at the Aloft Brooklyn during our visit because I’d checked it out online and it looked like a funky design hotel that really deviated from the stuffy NYC hotels you usually hear about.

It’s a Starwood hotel, a “Vision of W Hotels” in fact. Focused at young professionals; when we arrived we were checked in fast and given vouchers for complimentary coffee/tea each day for being Starwood Preferred Guest members.

The lobby featured lots of lounges to relax in and the wxyz bar, great for a beer after a long day of sightseeing.

The re:fuel snack bar was stocked with fruit, chocolate, breakfast bits and pieces and of course, coffee. It made it really easy to just grab something and go each morning.

I’d definitely recommend it if you’re after somewhere a bit cheaper and a bit more up to date than most hotels. It was kind of no-frills, but still had some coolness about it.

Budget

There’s no skirting around, NYC is not cheap. Brooklyn is slightly cheaper than Manhattan, but don’t expect bargain basement prices. Meals will set you back about $15 a pop and a beer was about $5 for a bottle. Eating from the food trucks on the street was slightly cheaper, with a egg and bacon bagel costing about $4.

Conclusion

Brooklyn is definitely full of surprises. It features the best pizzas in NYC, the best cheesecake and some of the most genuine people in town. The place isn’t chockers with tourists or people trying to sell you stuff and is such a different side of NYC. When you’re over Manhattan, make your way across the bridge and explore Brooklyn.

 Disclosure: I received only the A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour complimentary, and all my views are my own.

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I was super keen to check out Hoi An as I’d heard about how it was a former fishing village and shipping port that was essentially frozen in time. The Chinese/Japanese traders exerted heavy influence on Hoi An in the 1600’s, but when Da Nang evolved faster with a deeper harbour, Hoi An faded away out of the trading limelight. What’s left today is a quaint little pedestrian only village that feels like you’ve just stepped into an Oriental hamlet of 400 years ago.

Things to See and Do

Hoi An is all about the UNESCO Heritage listed Old Town with all its characteristic faded yellow townhouses. With no cars allowed, it’s a lot calmer than other Vietnamese towns and the lack of any risk of being cleaned up by a little Daewoo allows you to relax and take it all in a bit more.

The Old Town is only a few blocks wide, perfect for simply wandering around and discovering the galleries, tailors and craftsmen, which I’ll tell you more about soon.

Japanese Covered Bridge

One of the centrepieces of the Hoi An, the Covered Bridge is a remnant of the heavy Japanese influence on Hoi An in the 1600’s. The bridge was originally constructed to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese quarter – separated by a small stream of water as a symbolic gesture of peace.

Roughly 40 years after the the Japanese Bridge was constructed, the Japanese were demanded to return home to Japan under order of Sakoku – the act that officially closed Japan to the rest of the world until the mid 1850’s. Interestingly, the bridge is the only one in the world with a Buddhist temple inside it.

Shopping in Hoi An’s Artisan Tailors and Galleries

Hoi An is known for its fine tailoring, custom leatherwork and bespoke fabrication. They’re so good that many craftsmen can reproduce something you show them in a magazine or catalogue in as little as 2 days. The leatherworkers can spin up replicas of satchels, handbags or backpacks in exactly the right colour, size and configuration you want.

I had a crack at having a bag made for work, and after I forked over the US $100 for it the lady running the shop really took her time to understand everything about the bag. She asked loads of questions like how big I wanted it to be, what kind of pockets and zips I wanted, how wide I wanted the shoulder strap to be and even what kind of fabric I wanted inside it. Unfortunately the shop couldn’t finish it by the time we had to leave, but they gladly refunded my money, which was refreshing in a country like Vietnam that has a reputation for ripping people off.

Away from leather goods, there are loads of shops that can make custom-tailored dresses, suits, shirts and pretty much any garment you can think of. If you need some great fitting clobber for a good price, get it made up here.

Food and Drink

Eating in Hoi An is like everywhere else in Vietnam – it’s all about the street. Food vendors ply the streets selling everything from the local variation of pho to sweet and savoury snacks to have on the go. Get your dong out and eat while you wander.

Morning Glory

For a comfortable and affordable dinner, check out Morning Glory. It’s a really casual place and takes street food into a refined restaurant setting. Set in an old colonial building (like a lot of the rest of Hoi An), it’s one of the more in-demand restaurants in the Old Town (so try and make a booking).

The first thing you notice when you enter is that a kitchen is right in the middle of the restaurant, exposing all the delicious food being prepared by the cooks to everyone dining on the downstairs level.

The first thing we got into was Morning Glory’s speciality of the pork “roll it”. They come as a set on a platter and you take your rice paper, add greens and then a big skewer of pork and wrap it all up into a package of juicy Vietnamese deliciousness. They were so good we got seconds while we waited for our mains.

Speaking of mains, I had the cinnamon beef stew that literally fell apart as I tried to tuck into it. Complimented by big chunks of carrot, the beef was a great change from all the pork I’d had recently throughout the rest of Vietnam.

The owners of Morning Glory also run Cargo Club on the same street, which has a wide selection of pastries and desserts and makes for a great place for coffee after dinner.

How to get there

Getting to Hoi An is a bit more involved than other cities in Vietnam as it doesn’t have its own airport. Your best bet is to fly into the brand new Da Nang airport with AirAsia, Vietnam Airlines or JetStar Pacific and then take a taxi to Hoi An. In standard Asia form, you’ll get bombarded by taxi drivers as soon as you exit the Arrivals hall. A taxi to Hoi An should only be about USD $15, and make sure you be firm on where you want to go as taxi drivers trying to get you to their mate’s hotel is pretty common.

A bit of orientation

Hereâ€s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Hoi An. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Hoi An in a larger map

Get around in Hoi An

As Hoi An is pretty compact, you’ll find that most of it is easily walkable. But if you do find yourself with tired feet, grab a green Mai Linh taxi or try your luck with a cyclo (but make sure you agree your price before you get on).

The hotel I’m about to tell you about is a bit far out of town, but luckily they provide a regular, free shuttle into town. Just one of the many amazing services they provide.

Where to stay

When you’re up for indulging yourself, take a look at The Nam Hai Resort. You immediately get the impression of luxury and opulence as you drive through the main gates and along the beautifully manicured garden to the welcome centre. Greeted by the friendly check-in staff by name, you take a seat in what seems like a sumptuous office that has had all four walls taken down, exposing the insides to the warm, breezy ocean air. From here, the experience begun.

We were escorted in a golf buggy to our private villa and toured around the extensive interior that made me feel like I’d just had a couple of zeros added to my yearly salary. This villa was less of a hotel room and more of an extensive opulent oceanside luxury experience. The first thing I noticed was the relaxing ambient music playing from the villa’s sound system. I immediately felt chilled out and like I never wanted to leave this place.

The bed was the central focal point of the villa, propped up on its own stage and surrounded by 6 silk curtains that created a bedroom within a room after dark. The villa descended gradually down 3 levels until you reached the sitting area with 2 plush sofas overlooking the gardens outside.

Making your way around the gradiose bed, you’re met with artistically carved sliding doors that open up into a cavernous his and hers affair of a bathroom, including individual dressing rooms. This place literally kept getting better and better.

Venturing outside, you’re greeted with a private courtyard and an outdoor shower. I’d never stayed anywhere with a shower outside, my jaw was on the marble tiled floor. It was obviously the only choice for cooling off in the afternoon after a warm day exploring Hoi An.

After we got over the amazing interior of our villa, it was time to stroll along the beach and check out more of what the Nam Hai had to offer in the pool department.

The Nam Hai features at least three pools in the main area, each appearing to cascade into the other and then into the waves beyond as they break on the beach. Each pool has a specific purpose including a family pool and a lap pool, allowing everyone to be happy with their water-based activities.

Once the sun went down and we returned from dinner in town, we entered the villa to be greeted with this incredible turn-down service.

The entire place had been turned into an oasis of after-dark tranquility. The music had been set to an even more relaxing soundtrack and all six curtains had been pulled closed to create that room within a room and produce a more intimate vibe within the expansive open-planned villa.

The next morning we called for a pickup by a resort golf buggy and were brought to the breakfast area. If you follow my blog, you’ll know that breakfast is usually my favourite part of any hotel stay, and in this case I was definitely not disappointed.

The buffet area featured an absolute forest of different yogurts, mueslis and pastries to feast on before the main event; which consisted of a selection from the concise yet diverse a la carte menu. I went for a Vietnamese pork char siu, which is a bit unconventional for breakfast, but I wanted to do as the locals do and enjoy something a bit different.

Overlooking the pool area, we enjoyed our delicious breakfast in relative quiet and thought about the once in a lifetime place we’d spent the night in.

Although we weren’t looking forward to checking out, we knew we’d been treated to something special and couldn’t wait to tell our friends when we got home.

Budget

Price wise, Hoi An is about the same as Hanoi. Meals will set you back about 80,000 to 120,000 dong and beers are around 40k dong each. For a taxi back to the Nam Hai from Hoi An (if you need to get back when a shuttle isn’t running), it’ll cost you around $5-$10 USD.

Rates at the Nam Hai start from $650 (£418) excluding taxes per villa per night, including daily buffet breakfast for two people at The Restaurant, daily complimentary shuttle to Hoi An and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages from the minibar. Stay at The Nam Hai for 4 nights and pay for 3 or stay 7 and pay for 5, valid until 20 December 2013.

For more information please visit: www.masonrose.com/namhai or www.thenamhaihoian.com

Conclusion

Hoi An really put the icing on the cake for me in Vietnam, as it had so much individual heritage, character and charm that sets it apart from cities throughout the rest of the country. Seeing how well the old buildings have been preserved and the lack of cars makes it into a great place to relax and just soak up the special vibe of the town.

Disclosure: Our stay at the Nam Hai was provided complimentary and all opinions are my own, as always. I couldn’t write a bad thing about their digs anyway, it was absolutely amazing.

The post 48 hours in Hoi An appeared first on 48 Hour Adventure.

The capital of the Vietnamese socialist republic and nestled on the fabled Red River, Hanoi is a bustling, noisy slice of South East Asia that I didn’t find as in-your-face as other Asian countries and is bursting with tonnes of local character.

Things to See and Do

With loads of tumultuous history, delicious street food and markets to get involved in, 2 days in Vietnam’s traditionally conservative northern metropolis is just the right amount of time to see enough of the city. Especially if you’re interested in historic sites and learning more about the North Vietnam side of the war.

Old Quarter

A mazes of alleyways, lanes, street eateries, bars and local vendors, Hanoi’s old quarter is where you’ll be dodging motorbikes and scooters all the while being led by your nose to find the best bun cha or pho. Street vendors, temples, counterfeit DVDs shops and all manner of other bits and pieces make up this never ending traditional heart of the capital.

The name of the game here is just wandering around, discovering what the city has to offer. Everything north of the Hoam Kiem Lake is the Old Quarter, and just following your inquisitiveness is the best way to experience it. If artwork is your thing, look out for the galleries dotted throughout the old town selling reproduced Communist propaganda posters.

Hoam Kiem Lake

Hoam Kiem Lake is really the focal point of Hanoi. It’s 100% mystical as far as the Vietnamese are concerned. Meaning “Lake of the Returned Sword” in English, the legend is that emperor Le Loi was boating on the lake when his magic sword was grabbed by a turtle.

No one could find the sword or the turtle, so the emperor concluded that the Golden Turtle God had come to take back the sword that it had given him some time earlier during his revolt against the Chinese Ming Dynasty. The emperor then renamed the lake to commemorate the event, and the Turtle Tower standing on a small island near the centre of lake is linked to the legend.

Exploring Ngoc Son Temple on the island is a great introduction to Vietnamese religion, and the vast temple is filled with colourful statues and offerings are dotted throughout.

Military History Museum and Flag Tower

This was something that I was really keen to check out. I’m a big military and history buff, so the two together literally had be frothing at the mouth. It’s filled with Vietnamese war history going back centuries and does harbour a heavy bias towards the regime, but is an incredible insight into the Vietnam War.

The grounds of the museum are littered with old military hardware includes lots of captured American aircraft and old Russian fighters and tanks.

It highlights American imperialism in a big way, but I think that’s to be expected in the heart of what is traditionally the most hardline, conservative, Communist part of Vietnam. And getting to sit in the cockpit of a Chinook helicopter was pretty damn cool.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

For anyone that’s been to Moscow, you’ll recognise what’s going on here straight away. Like the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, this one is for the hero of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. He’s responsible for the uprising against the French after WW2 and is effectively the father of everything Vietnam stands for socialism wise.

Entry is a convoluted affair like in Moscow also, with a long queue with no obvious entrance where you have to surrender all your stuff before they’ll let you in. To be honest, walking around the outside is enough unless you have a real desire to check out Minh’s embalmed body in a glass case.

Hanoi Hilton (Hoa Lo Prison)

The Hoa Lo Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War when it was sarcastically known to American prisoners of war as the “Hanoi Hilton”. Known as Maison Centrale. the French used the prison to imprison, torture and execute Vietnamese dissidents.

It serves as a dark reminder of political imprisonment and demonstrates how the French treated the Vietnamese and then how the Vietnamese treated their own people and the Americans they captured.

The prison which took up an enormous block of land was demolished during the 1990s, and the gatehouse is the only part that remains as the museum. It’s not a big museum, and you can cover the entire prison in about 2 hours or so.

Food and Drink

Now onto the tasty part – getting your face into some tasty Vietnamese eats. Everybody is familiar with the ubiquitous Pho, and the version you’ll most likely run into is Pho Bo (Pho with beef). You can literally get it everywhere in Hanoi, and each street vendor will have their own way of making it that’s been passed down through their family for generations. Consisting of noodles, green vegetables, beef and a soupy broth, it’s a cheap way to get fed. Make sure you slurp up all of the broth!

You could literally have pho for breakfast, lunch and dinner here, but do save some room for the other amazing meals you’ll find in the city.

New Day Restaurant

Frequented by both locals and tourists, New Day Restaurant is a buzzing place to eat that’s a step up from the plastic stools and bare concrete walls you’ll find out on the street but with the same fantastic quality of food.

Attentive, fast and friendly staff will help you navigate the extensive menu and make sure you order yourself a great selection of the finest North Vietnamese culinary delights available. Like this sweet and sour chicken and spring rolls.

Or bun cha, a Northern staple you’ll only find in and around Hanoi. It’s essentially BBQ pork, greens and rice noodles and it comes with a cup of broth that you drown the contents in before going in with your chopsticks.

Or how about these great little beef ribs I had for a starter? They were definitely different to the BBQ ribs you get from Bodean’s here in London, but just as sticky.

The locals next to us ordered half the menu I reckon; and when it came it was a big share-fest of rice and bowls of meat criss-crossing the table. I love the communal way people eat in Asia.

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter and near some well known hostels and hotels, you shouldn’t have much of a problem finding this place.

How to get there

Hanoi is served by Air Asia (from KL), Vietnam Airlines (from London) and Jetstar Pacific (from other cities in Vietnam) along with other Asian carriers. Noi Bai airport is about 45 km from Hanoi and the drive into the city will take 45-60 minutes (traffic is generally shocking). Try to organise an airport transfer with your hotel before arriving to avoid the rip-off fest with taxis at the airport.

A bit of orientation

Hereâ€s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Hanoi. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Hanoi in a larger map

Get around in Hanoi

Hanoi can mostly be covered on foot, especially in the Old Quarter and around Hoam Kiem Lake. For when you find yourself a bit far from where you’re staying, try to flag down a green Mai Linh or Taxigroup taxi only. These taxis have honest meters, and taxis from other companies will try to stiff you. If you do have to take a different taxi, agree on the price before you get in. A trip across Hanoi should cost about 50,000 dong.

You could also opt for for a cyclo, but do beware that these guys peddling around the city have their ways of extorting more money out of you once the journey’s over. This happened to us further down the coast in Hue, and we had to pay 50k dong extra to avoid a bit of a stand-off in a busy market.

Where to stay

Hands down, I reckon your best choice in Hanoi is the Hanoi Elite Hotel. When we arrived, I was blown away by the level of service provided in this gem tucked away in the Old Quarter. The staff are incredibly friendly, and ushered us in from the rain, took our bags off our hands and offered us a cooked breakfast when we arrived off our flight at 10am in the morning.

The hotel is small, with only 4 floors and 2 rooms per floor, but the cosiness really adds to the character. The rooms are of a decent size and are really well appointed with a massive bed, desk and computer, fast, free wifi and complimentary fruit and water. On demand movies are also provided on the big wall-mounted TV.

The bathroom was compact, but had a great big shower and the place was filled with flower petals. This is the kind of treatment you expected in an expensive beach resort, not in a small central city hotel.

The ground floor had a small breakfast area, just enough to accommodate a few guests at a time. It really made you socialise a bit more with the other people staying and with the staff also. The great team of staff can also easily organise any tours or transport you need. When we needed to book train tickets from Da Nang to Hue, the receptionists helped us pick the right train and then took care of everything for us. The also helped us understand Hanoi a bit better, filled us in about who might try to scam us and were generally just genuinely helpful.

Budget

The currency in Vietnam is the Dong (yeah, I know :)). I had so many dong jokes going on, it was hilarious. I had so many dongs. £1 converts to about 31,000 dong, so I was literally a dong millionaire the whole time i was there. Beers will generally run you at about 40,000 dong, taxis about 50k (like I said above), and meals are usually 80,000-120,000 dong.

Conclusion

Hanoi is a real mix of everything that Vietnam is about. From the proud Socialist conservative history, to great street food and a bit of dodgy weather, it’s a city that takes a day or so to get your bearings in. Daunting at first, it doesn’t take long to recognise streets you’ve been down, dodgy cyclo drivers or the best place to get some bun cha. From those that have been, I’m told Hanoi is very different to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, which is apparently more tropical and liberal.

Hanoi is very much “old school” Vietnam from what I read and subsequently found, but stay tuned to find out more about what I thought of other cities further south in Vietnam.

The post 48 hours in Hanoi appeared first on 48 Hour Adventure.

When we were researching our visit to Ha Long Bay, there were lots of mixed reviews on how to go about it. Should we do a day trip or an overnight trip? Wing it with a travel agent in Hanoi or pre-book it? We decided in the end that staying overnight on a boat and sailing leisurely around the bay was the best way to see this expansive and ethereal UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we went with the two-day Halong Bay Junk Cruise with Intrepid Travel.

We were picked up from our hotel in Hanoi early in the morning and began the 3 hour bus journey to Ha Long City, where we’d meet our traditional junk to begin sailing. Along the way, we got to know the other people we’d be sharing the trip with and soaked up the Vietnamese countryside along with observing the many roadside places that clearly sold dog meat (thit cho). Stopping off at a local handicrafts workshop, I managed to get my wifi fix and was introduced to the amazing Trung Nguyen coffee, a Vietnamese caffeine staple.

Arriving in Ha Long City, we joined many other travellers either eager to begin their sailing trip or just returning, filled with stories and seeing off the new friends they’d just shared the experience with. After port formalities, we all clambered onto the small tenders above to be transferred to our grand traditional junk which was anchored in the harbour.

Upon boarding, we were greeted by the boat’s crew of beaming, friendly staff who helped us with our bags and seated us in the dining room where we were briefed on everything from safety, our itinerary and what we’d see over the two days to our cabins, when the hot water would work for showers (takes a while to reheat apparently!) and when our meals would be. We knew this wasn’t going to be a rough boat trip. It was going to be a fun, comfortable, amazing two days.

The boats Intrepid use in Ha Long Bay are really well appointed. With a sun-deck up top and a lots of space at the front of the boat, there’s lots of vantage points to take in the majestic beauty of the bay and to get some amazing shots of the epic karst limestone rock formations throughout.

Now onto the important bit, what was the accommodation like? Well I was surprised. Our double cabins were decorated with artistic Oriental detailing and featured a massive queen size bed and plush linen. Each room and its own air conditioner and heater and large windows overlooking the bay. So close you could almost reach out and touch Ha Long Bay from your bed.

Our bathroom was the most surprising part of our cabin. We had come prepared to have to share a communal bathroom with our fellow shipmates, but were instead greeted by a very big shower and everything else you could need for an overnight stay. This is definitely the way to do sailing in Ha Long Bay, folks.

But we didn’t come all this way just to lay around in bed overlooking the water all day, because it was time to get adventurous and see more of this incredible part of Vietnam. First up, we disembarked the junk for smaller boats powered only by a single local man rowing us towards a small opening at the bottom of an enormous cliff.

What lay beyond was a quiet, secluded cove surrounded by cliffs covered in dense jungle with no other access to the outside world. It was the absolute definition of serene. And what else did we find? These little guys!

Next up, we left the secluded cove and sailed to what’s called “Surprise Cave”. Named so because of how much of a “surprise” it is once you get inside. Okay then. :) Nevertheless, once we did climb up the stairs and descended into the depths of the cave, we were suitably impressed with how expansive and well kept it was. Our guide pointed out the remarkable rock formations along the way.

We floated away from Surprise Cave and made our way to a collection of pontoons dotted with small huts near one of the limestone islands. Our guide promptly announced that it was time to do some kayaking. Now I’m not the best on the water, so I was a bit dubious at first. But one by one, everyone else in our group accepted the offer and I thought “bugger it” and we jumped precariously into a canoe.

We then spent the next 30 minutes or so paddling our way around the small inlet, observing local families in their floating homes. One was even pumping out Gangnam Style. It just goes to show, you can’t get away from that song, even in Ha Long Bay!

There are entire floating villages out here who survive solely on fishing and tourism. The villages have everything they need including schools and markets, and villagers only ventured to the mainland once a month or so.

Back on the boat, it was time for dinner. Meals were tasty and plentiful throughout the entire trip and we were treated to delicious Vietnamese food prepared fresh on the boat in the kitchen below us. Everything from beef salads for starters, spring rolls as appetisers to the Vietnamese classic of pho noodle soup and chicken, seafood and pork for mains.

All the food was included as part of the tour, and we just had to pay for the beers we drank (of which there were many as we watched the Top Gear Vietnam Special after dinner!). Our tour was made up of lots of other Aussies, so sharing our travel stories and reminiscing about where we grew up was a great way to spend the evening.

Waking up the next morning, I stepped out of our cabin and was promptly greeted with this view. Pretty bloody special if you tell me.

Our last day was spent casually cruising around the rest of Ha Long Bay and taking it all in. The majority of us spent it on the top deck taking photos of literally everything. Ha Long Bay is definitely one of those places you just want to keep taking photos of.

But before we all bid the crew adieu, we were treated to a spring roll cooking class in the dining room. I only managed one decent one I think – it’s surprisingly more difficult than I expected. Getting the right mix of vegetables and pork without the rice paper disintegrating is something I’d need to spend a lot more time in Vietnam to get right I reckon.

The kitchen took away our somewhat questionable spring rolls and fried them up for us, and they became our starters for lunch shortly before we returned to harbour.

Approaching Ha Long City again, the towering limestone cliffs started to fade into the mist and became but a memory. Before we knew it, we were back on the docks and preparing for the journey back to Hanoi. Some of our new mates from the boat were continuing longer journeys through Vietnam, like Intrepid’s 10 day Vietnam Express Soutbound tour (of which the tour we took is a part of) but for us it was back to explore more of the capital.

Seeing Ha Long Bay for myself and taking the time to appreciate it was absolutely a highlight of my trip to Vietnam. It’s something you’d be crazy not to check out in this part of the world, and you owe it to yourself to do it the right way I think.

Disclosure: We were provided with our trip complimentary by Intrepid Travel, but I always tell it like it is and all opinions are my own as usual.

The post Overnight Cruising in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay appeared first on 48 Hour Adventure.

I’d been to Malaysia once before, but only to the southern border city of Johor Bahru on a day trip from Singapore in 2009, so I wanted to see what the capital was like and how it compared to other Asian cities. I soon learnt that Malaysia is a melting pot of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Western cultures, a humid metropolis of chaotic neighbourhoods along with an endless stretch of enormous shopping malls.

Things to See and Do

KL is bursting with street markets, a colourful array of foods to try, lots of places to shop and of course the iconic Petronas Towers. It’s hot, muggy, sticky, dirty and a lot grittier than it’s southern cousin in Singapore. So with that, let’s dive straight in with the big guns.

Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers are the standout star of KL and dominate the skyline for miles around. Situated in what’s called the “Kuala Lumpur City Centre” (KLCC), it features an observation deck half way up it and the Suria KLCC mall at ground level. Suria isn’t really where you’ll find the shopping KL is known for, as it’s mostly high-end boutiques here.

In my opinion, don’t bother going up the observation deck. Who wants to overlook the city without seeing the landmark iconic building? You’d be better off checking out the view from the Skybar in the Traders Hotel, which I’ll talk about later.

Merdeka Square

It was here in Merdeka (Independence) Square that the British flag was lowered on August 31st 1957 and the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time. It’s a very symbolic place for the nation and a great place to get an initial feel for the colonial history of Malaysia.

Also of interest, the Royal Selangor Club used to play cricket here during the British colonial days.

Chinatown (Jalan Petaling)

Situated smack-bang in the middle of Chinatown, Jalan Petaling is a major street market where you can find vendors peddling clothes, souvenirs, toys, counterfeit DVDs and all manner of other knick-knacks that you can test your haggling skills on.

You’ll also find a load of Malay/Chinese food outlets around here also to have a crack at some local eats and loads of budget accommodation options if you find yourself short on cash and a place to stay.

Central Market

Built in 1888 and rebuilt in the 1930s in Art Deco style, the Central Market was, you guessed it, the central place where trading took place for decades in KL. Now filled with kitschy tourist stalls, the main attraction here I reckon is the food court on the top level with a good selection of treats to try and free wifi. It was pretty underwhelming really.

Berjaya Times Square Mall

Now we get onto something that KL is really known for – it’s epic multi-storey malls. Times Square is in the Bukit Bintang shopping hotspot of KL and is one of the juggernauts when it comes to experiencing the retail craziness this city has to offer.

With over seven levels of all kinds of outlets to explore, this place really is overwhelming. You won’t find any of the high street retailers here, all the shops here are authentic Malaysian places like “Pretty Girl” (size 6 girls clothes) and “Ahmed’s Toys”. If you’re looking for quality, chances are you won’t really find it here.

But on the other hand, THIS PLACE HAS AN INDOOR THEME PARK!

Featuring both a grown-ups and kids area, this theme park covers an absolutely enormous area inside the complex. You pay a flat entrance fee and then all the rides area included. There are all the thrill-ride type rides dotted around the place you’d expect in a decent sized theme park, but then your head cranes upward and definitely the first thing you notice as you hear the roar, is the orange and blue roller coaster that snakes its way around the entire cavernous space. It’s not a slouch when it comes to roller coasters, featuring both a loop and a corkscrew, so you do get some decent airtime on this. It doesn’t last all that long, but you can just queue back up and go again anyway.

The only thing I’ll comment on is that we had to pay 1 RM to store our stuff in the lockers each time we went on a ride, so that added up quickly. The day we went seemed to be quite quiet also, so the place lacked that buzzy atmosphere you’d expect in a place like this and we had to wait a while between rides as the operators waited for enough people to fill up the ride. The Times Square mall is absolutely a must see in KL for anyone with a bit of interest in theme parks though. It’s a great way to spend half a day away from the stifling heat outside and get your scream on.

Food and Drink

Food is another thing people rave about when they talk about Kuala Lumpur. With a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian available across the city, you’re never really stuck for choice. Whether it’s Nasi Lemak for breakfast, Nasi Goreng for lunch or Chicken Satay for a snack, Malaysian food really has its own unique flavours that you’ll want to widely sample.

Bijan Restaurant

One place in particular that we found not far from KLCC is Bijan, a stylish and unpretentious Malaysian restaurant on Jalan Ceylon.

Featuring high ceilings and both indoor and outdoor tables, Bijan has a diverse all-Malaysian menu on offer and a great selection of international wines also.

It was here that we scoffed a seriously large amount of quality satay and some great curries also. Definitely worth a look.

How to get there

Situated pretty much half way between Europe and Australasia, KL is a regular stopover city for both Malaysia Airlines and Emirates. Malaysia offer direct flights from at least London and Paris; and Emirates fly from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

AirAsia are also based in KL, albeit at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which although is on the same bit of land as KLIA, it’s actually about a 20 km journey by taxi between the two on the highway. You can get super cheap fares with AirAsia to all parts of Asia and Australia and in my opinion, they’re fine for anything under 4 hours, but I wouldn’t want to fly long haul with them. They’re like the easyJet of Asia.

A bit of orientation

Hereâ€s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Kuala Lumpur. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur in a larger map

Get around in Kuala Lumpur

Getting around in KL is pretty damn easy. The city is well kitted out with public transport in the form of the LRT and monorail and you can either buy individual tokens for journeys or a pre-paid card that you use to touch on and off as you go in and out of stations. Much like Istanbul, London or Singapore. Check out MyRapid for more info on how to get around.

The taxis in KL are also reasonably cheap, at about 10 RM to get around parts of the city. You can also get easily from the airport to KL Sentral station using the KL Ekspres train

Where to stay

When we stayed in KL, we knew we wanted somewhere iconic, comfortable and well appointed that didn’t break the bank. With this criteria (not hard to please I know!) in mind, we decided on the Traders Hotel in KLCC. Situated right across from the Petronas Towers, the amazing view from our room was the first thing that drew us in when we first opened the door. Check this out for a view!

All the rooms feature a super comfy bed, complimentary bottles of water, and check out that retro clock on the bedside table! Evening brought a great turndown service with slippers placed with care next to the bed and just enough lighting. It’s really the little things like this that make a hotel really great.

The Traders Hotel takes the cake for rooftop pool and bar in KL also. From the Skybar you can cast your eye over the entire KLCC area and beyond, all whilst enjoying some more chicken satay and a Tiger beer by the pool. At night, the Skybar turns into one of KL’s trendiest bars, with the cushioned window-side areas booked out for hours. The parade of Nissan GTRs and Porsches in front of the lobby downstairs assured me that this was definitely where the young and rich kids of KL come to play.

But the highlight of our stay at the Traders was definitely the breakfast. Pretty much everything you could ever think of for breakfast was catered for here. The regular stuff like cereal, fruit, yogurt, pastries and a huge hot buffet were catered for, but you could also get sushi, an Indian curry, Malaysian chicken congee or nasi lemak, Vietnamese noodles and more if you wanted. Breakfast really was an immense affair here.

And to top it off, there was a CHOCOLATE FONDUE FOUNTAIN. I had never seen this anywhere, it was literally the icing on the cake.

It was that, and the takeaway coffee machine as you left that really did it for me. If there’s one thing I can never get enough of in the morning, it’s coffee.

Traders also has this ingenious system that helps both guests and staff work together during breakfast. You’re given a card when you arrive that is red on one side and green on the other, and reads below:

Really smart huh? Allows you to completely make the most of the enormous amount and diverse degree of food on offer.

Many thanks to AsiaRooms.com for providing us with two nights complimentary stay. Rates at The Traders Hotel start from just £80 per night. Visit Asiarooms.com for more information and to book.

Budget

The currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM), and at time of writing you could get yourself RM 4.66 per British pound. KL is a relatively cheap city to visit for a few days. Meals will be about4 RM10-15 each, and a beer is about RM 2-3. Taxis as I mentioned are around RM 10 per trip in the city, and our taxi from the airport cost around RM 150.

Conclusion

KL is definitely isn’t the most beautiful city around, I’ll say that. It is rather gritty, incredibly busy and lacking somewhat in major sights, but it’s the kind of place you need to wander around to really appreciate and get a feel for.

It does have some pockets of goodness like the Traders Hotel and Bijan, so it’s not hard to find ways to escape the chaos of the street. Kuala Lumpur is one of those cities where it’s right in your face, straight away. You see real life almost immediately and it makes for a great introduction into South East Asia. It’s not too over the top, but it does give you that first taste that’ll make you want to explore more of this part of the world.

The post 48 hours in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on 48 Hour Adventure.

I’ve written about how to spend 48 hours in Melbourne before, but I’d never really stayed in many hotels in the city I grew up in. That all changed when we stayed at The Olsen in Prahran, on Melbourne’s trendy Chapel Street.

This hotel absolutely oozes understated cool. As you walk in the lobby you’re greeted by a giant mural painted by famous Australian artist John Olsen, of which the hotel is named and styled. The Olsen is one of three boutique hotels that make up the Art Series hotels in Melbourne, each in the style of a well known Aussie artist.

When we arrived, we were checked in by incredibly friendly staff who really went the extra mile to make us feel welcome. When I had some questions about where to park our car, one of the staff at reception tried his hardest to get me a free public car park on the street and even went out of his way to call me in our room when it was free. What a top bloke!

The rooms in The Olsen are all about laid back, understated luxury. With plush leather recliners, chic furniture and a very “let’s lounge around and drink cognac all evening” feel to them.

Our Studio suite featured lots of white and chrome detailing, and felt more like a private apartment than a hotel room. The super plush bed really allowed us to relax and take a load off after some hectic days exploring the city.

Each room comes fitted with a subtle yet compact kitchenette; and with a Woolworths supermarket across the road, you’ve got everything you need to cook yourself up an affordable spot of dinner. The mini bar also comes stocked with Little Creatures beers, which is all kinds of awesome in my books.

The bathroom is a cosy yet nicely appointed affair, featuring toiletries with cheeky slogans on them to contribute to the fun yet sophisticated feel this hotel continually gives off.

Venturing out of our room and down onto the rooftop, we discovered the luscious pool that looks out over Chapel St. In the balmy December warmth during our stay, the pool really came in handy to cool off after a long day of exploring the shopping districts in Prahran and South Yarra. Right next to the pool is also a gym and sauna, and above that is a dedicated sun deck complete with cushioned sun loungers and big white umbrellas.

Breakfast is covered in the rustic and homely Spoonbill Restaurant on the ground floor, with Melbourne specials like smashed avocado on sourdough and the “Mister Crunchy” (rare breed ham, gruyere cheese and dijon mustard) to tempt you in the AM hours. Along with serving St Ali coffee (which you can claim on free when you check in on foursquare) and hearty dishes, Spoonbill features regional Australian fare that changes depending on season. If you’re in need of a spot of dinner later on, you can also sample John Olsen’s own paella recipe from his expat days in Spain.

With the Yarra River and Chapel St so close, you’ll want to make the most of the bikes ($5 per hour) and electric cars ($10 per hour) the hotel has on offer to rent. Or perhaps jump on a tram right outside the front door or a train into the city from South Yarra station, right around the corner on Toorak Road.

Rated #8 out of 197 hotels on TripAdvisor, Melbourne’s Olsen and the other Art Series hotels really are a cut away from the norm. They’re individually styled, special places to stay that are a step above what can be an unending landscape of chain hotels throughout the city.

To book, simply check out The Olsen Hotel South Yarra website. To learn more about what’s on offer, check out the Visit Melbourne site.

Disclosure: We received one night complimentary of our two night stay at The Olsen.

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